Crywank started in 2009 with Jay Clayton attempting to do some folk-punk influenced acoustic music with no previous experience playing guitar. The first album "James is going to die soon" was inspired by a painful break up. Jay stated that "I wrote these songs out of frustration and sadness and they ended up making me feel a lot better, I hope they have a similar effect on you".
In 2012 Crywank released their second album 'Narcissist On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown'. Described as "a collection of paranoid songs mostly about me trying to understand my own sadness along with the concept of sadness as a whole. It was fueled by self help books and pot."
In late 2012 Dan Watson joined Crywank on percussion, and in early 2013 they released tour demos for their third album 'Tomorrow Is Nearly Yesterday And Everyday Is Stupid' which was released in October 2013.
In 2016 Jay and Dan began couch surfing to afford to be able to tour as much as possible. Over the next four years they performed over 500 shows in over 30 countries and released four albums.
Crywank announced their breakup following a world tour in 2019, alongside the album ‘fist me til your hand comes out my mouth’’ a huge departure in sound and the first release to include songwriting from Dan and explained the tense relationship between Jay and Dan that had developed over the years on the road.
Their breakup tour was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic and the North American and European dates had to be rescheduled numerous times. During this time Jay was in a house fire, which led to the release of a solo Crywank album ‘Just Popping In To Say Hi’ that was written and recorded over three days.
Between 2022-2023 Crywank managed to continue their final tour and performed 100 shows in the USA and over 50 shows in the UK and Ireland, often with bass player Jules Noel (AKA Guard Petal). In 2024 it was announced that Crywank will no longer be breaking up and Jules would be joining the band.
The name Crywank comes from reclaiming a cruel nickname given to Jay during a period of depression. Jay has since said that if they knew how popular the band would have become they probably would’ve chosen a different name.
Do You Have PPE For Self-Esteem?
Crywank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scrubbing dirt from the mens room floor.
The automatic urinal flush comes on and I get sprayed in the face.
New thoughtful ways to degrade.
Wheezing and eyes glazed I bunk off in a fog of human residue to write poetry about how much I hate my job. "
Do you have PPE for self-esteem"?
The lyrics of Crywank's song "Do You Have PPE For Self-Esteem?" suggest a sense of degradation and lack of fulfillment in one's job. The line "Hand and knees / Scrubbing dirt from the mens room floor" implies a menial task and a feeling of servitude. The line "The automatic urinal flush comes on and I get sprayed in the face" adds a layer of physical humiliation to the scene. The phrase "New thoughtful ways to degrade" suggests that this is not a one-time occurrence but a regular experience for the singer.
The following lines "Wheezing and eyes glazed I bunk off in a fog of human residue to write poetry about how much I hate my job" suggests that the singer is using creative expression as an escape from their unsatisfying job. The final line "Do you have PPE for self-esteem?" implies a need for protection from the negative effects of low self-esteem, similar to how one would need personal protective equipment (PPE) in a hazardous work environment.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a bleak and dehumanizing work experience that is leading the singer to seek solace in creative expression and a desire for protection from the negative effects of low self-esteem.
Line by Line Meaning
Hand and Knees.
I am on the floor, cleaning the men's bathroom on my hands and knees.
Scrubbing dirt from the mens room floor.
I am cleaning up the dirt and grime on the floor of the men's bathroom.
The automatic urinal flush comes on and I get sprayed in the face.
The automatic flush of the urinal sprays water on my face and I feel humiliated.
New thoughtful ways to degrade.
I constantly experience new ways to feel small and degraded.
Wheezing and eyes glazed I bunk off in a fog of human residue to write poetry about how much I hate my job.
Feeling exhausted and disconnected, I escape into my own thoughts to write poetry about my deep dissatisfaction with my job.
Do you have PPE for self-esteem?
Is there any equipment or tool I can use to protect and boost my self-esteem?
Contributed by Thomas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.